Will Nick Markakis be a go by Opening Day?

Will Nick Markakis be a go by Opening Day?

Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron

Markakis says yes, and it's hard to argue with a guy who has played 157 or more games in five consecutive seasons and has gutted through plenty of aches and pains. The 28-year-old right fielder is genuinely one of the tougher guys to ever put on an Orioles uniform — and given the durability history of some the club's all-time greats, that's a pretty bold statement. However, Markakis had significant abdominal surgery Jan. 5 to repair his abductor and rectus abdominis (six-pack) muscles. He said he doesnt believe hell need many spring at-bats to be ready, and he usually seems ready for the season by March 15. So as long as he can start getting into games by mid-March, he likely will be in the Opening Day lineup. But getting into the lineup and being effective are different things. The Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman went through a similar surgery last April and returned in June to hit .197 in his first 15 games back. And it was his defense that really seemed affected by the injury. Considered one of the best defensive third basemen in the past decade, Zimmerman was slow and tentative while playing the hot corner when he came back. He eventually got it together at third and at the plate — he batted .313 with a .382 on-base percentage in July and drove in 17 runs in August — but any injury that disrupts a player's core area is concerning. And the Orioles don't have an easy replacement. Chavez likely would be the primary right fielder in place of Markakis.

Markakis says yes, and it's hard to argue with a guy who has played 157 or more games in five consecutive seasons and has gutted through plenty of aches and pains. The 28-year-old right fielder is genuinely one of the tougher guys to ever put on an Orioles uniform — and given the durability history of some the club's all-time greats, that's a pretty bold statement. However, Markakis had significant abdominal surgery Jan. 5 to repair his abductor and rectus abdominis (six-pack) muscles. He said he doesnt believe hell need many spring at-bats to be ready, and he usually seems ready for the season by March 15. So as long as he can start getting into games by mid-March, he likely will be in the Opening Day lineup. But getting into the lineup and being effective are different things. The Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman went through a similar surgery last April and returned in June to hit .197 in his first 15 games back. And it was his defense that really seemed affected by the injury. Considered one of the best defensive third basemen in the past decade, Zimmerman was slow and tentative while playing the hot corner when he came back. He eventually got it together at third and at the plate — he batted .313 with a .382 on-base percentage in July and drove in 17 runs in August — but any injury that disrupts a player's core area is concerning. And the Orioles don't have an easy replacement. Chavez likely would be the primary right fielder in place of Markakis. (Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron)

Markakis says yes, and it's hard to argue with a guy who has played 157 or more games in five consecutive seasons and has gutted through plenty of aches and pains. The 28-year-old right fielder is genuinely one of the tougher guys to ever put on an Orioles uniform — and given the durability history of some the club's all-time greats, that's a pretty bold statement. However, Markakis had significant abdominal surgery Jan. 5 to repair his abductor and rectus abdominis (six-pack) muscles. He said he doesnt believe hell need many spring at-bats to be ready, and he usually seems ready for the season by March 15. So as long as he can start getting into games by mid-March, he likely will be in the Opening Day lineup. But getting into the lineup and being effective are different things. The Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman went through a similar surgery last April and returned in June to hit .197 in his first 15 games back. And it was his defense that really seemed affected by the injury. Considered one of the best defensive third basemen in the past decade, Zimmerman was slow and tentative while playing the hot corner when he came back. He eventually got it together at third and at the plate — he batted .313 with a .382 on-base percentage in July and drove in 17 runs in August — but any injury that disrupts a player's core area is concerning. And the Orioles don't have an easy replacement. Chavez likely would be the primary right fielder in place of Markakis.